How to Use Foursquare: A beginner’s guide

Foursquare was first launched in March 2009, and since then has grown to a user base of more than 3 million. OK so we know that this does not threaten Facebook and their 500 million users, but what it has done has made social networking much more fun – so much so that other social sites have been getting in on the action.

The Foursquare app is available for Android, Blackberry, iPhone, webOS amongst others. Once installed and signed up you will be able to check in with friends while you are out enjoying yourself at a bar, restaurant etc. Getting started is easy, and once signed up you can invite your friends from Facebook and Twitter.

Now you are ready to have fun with the real-life social game, well that’s what Paula Jacobs describes it as from Helium. So the aim is to check in when you are somewhere, then you or a friend can track the history of where you have been.

Jacobs points out that users can leave comments of places that they have visited so that people can see if it will be ideal for them to visit. This will have its pros and cons for the venues that have been commented on.

The aim is to check in to the same location more than anyone else, this not only allows you to become Madam or Sir Mayor but leads to rewards with badges or points.